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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/2/2007

County Executive Kathleen Falk has named a longtime Dane County public safety officer, who also served as the Chief Deputy sheriff during his 28 years of county service, the next Director of Public Safety Communications.

Joseph M. Norwick of McFarland served as a Dane County deputy sheriff January 1978 to November 2006. At the time of his retirement, Norwick held the rank of Chief Deputy to former Sheriff Gary Hamblin. Pending County Board approval, he will assume his duties as the head of the 911 communications center on July 23.

Since Norwick’s departure from county service, he has worked as a consultant nationwide on public safety issues – including interoperable communications.

“We searched far and wide, and found the best candidate here at home,” Falk said of Norwick. “Joe Norwick has a long distinguished law enforcement career right here in the county. He knows all the stakeholders, the ins and outs of our 911 Center, has widespread respect in the county -- and is enormously respected by those who have worked with him. These are the reasons I chose him.”

Falk said Norwick’s hiring is good news for the county residents, and represents another great step in a long line of public safety improvements.

“In recent years, we have implemented Advance Life Support, the 12-Lead Program and improved ambulance and paramedic services for those in accidents or facing sudden illness. Just last month, we launched Priority Fire Dispatch – the first county in the state to do so,” Falk said. “The next big issue facing our 911 Center is one that Joe Norwick has expertise – the interoperability of radios – a big, big issue from the local to the national level.”

Norwick, who also served as chair of the 911 Center Board, earned his undergraduate degree in sociology-correctional administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He completed the School of Police Staff and Command from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Norwick also has published articles on jail issues in national publications.

Norwick succeeds former director Richard ‘Duke’ Ellingson who retired earlier this year. Deputy director Rich McVicar has been serving as interim director while the hiring process was under way.